New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4)

This qualification is for people wanting to gain foundation skills in creativity, including the ability to explore ideas in a range of conventions and media.

Graduates will be able to apply skills with some guidance in experimentation, communication of ideas, problem solving, risk-taking and self-evaluation in different areas of work and communities. They will have the creative skills and knowledge to fill assistant and/or support roles across a variety of creative industries and studios.

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio and take part in an interview process.

School Leavers
Students must be a minimum of 17 years at the start of their course and ideally have NCEA Level 2.

Applicants should demonstrate a keen interest in applied arts as a realistic career choice or personal development.

Mature Applicants
Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment, will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 1 or above in a related discipline and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the Head of Faculty in consultation with the Programme Manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

Notwithstanding the above admissions categories, in exceptional circumstances, a mature aged applicant who can show evidence of ability to succeed in the programme may be considered for admission provided the applicant has successfully completed an approved course or programme, which is deemed to prepare graduates for the required academic standard for entry.

Portfolio Requirements

Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of their work with their application as follows:

• Portfolio: examples of free-hand drawing (x2). Examples of x2 other artworks of your choice in any medium. (please ensure images are good quality if artworks are photographed for submission)
• Prior Learning: evidence of prior learning e.g. academic transcripts.
• Statement: hand written statement of 150-200 words on an A4 page outlining your interests and goals within the programme (e.g. why are you choosing visual arts as a career pathway?).
• Referees: contact details for two people who know you well e.g. teacher or employer.
• Interview: a time will be arranged for you to meet with the programme manager or appropriate staff member following the assessment of your application.
• Passion and commitment: We are also looking for students who have a passion for the arts and are committed to furthering their conceptual, aesthetic and technical skills.

(Please do not include any original material in your portfolio) 

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following:

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL); or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in  either New Zealand, Australia­, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor ‘s Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters’ Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be  from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment

Certificate at Level 4

• IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
• TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 530 (with an essay score of 4.5 TWE)
• TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 46 (with a writing score of 14)
• Cambridge English Examination –B2 First or B2First for schools with a score of 162.  No less than 154 in each skill.
• OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
• NZCEL - a) Expiring Level   b) Current:
• Level 3 (Academic) b) Level 3 (Applied)
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) – PTE (Academic) score of 42 with no band score lower than 36
• Language Cert - B2 Communicator IESOL (LRWS) with PASS and no less than Pass in each skill
• Trinity ISE - ISE II with no less than pass in any band

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Creativity, and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 60 credits in accordance with the programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4)
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Level 4) full-time over one semester or part-time over one year

Please Note: Students failing to attend for 80% of the timetabled programme hours may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

Classes are held Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.00pm at SIT's Downtown Campus (Don St, Invercargill).